Chassis structure

ABSTRACT

A chassis structure including a box body, a bracket, and a cover plate is provided. The box body includes a base portion and a plurality of sidewall portions, wherein the sidewall portions are connected to a periphery of the base portion. The bracket is connected to the sidewall portions and includes a first engagement portion. The cover plate is assembled to the sidewall portions and covers the bracket, wherein the cover plate includes a second engagement portion, and the second engagement portion is engaged with the first engagement portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/459,608, filed on Feb. 16, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to a chassis structure, and in particular, to a chassis structure including a bracket therein.

Description of Related Art

As technology advances, personal computers have been widely applied in work and life. Common personal computers currently include desktop computers and notebook computers.

In terms of desktop computers, the host chassis includes a box body and a cover plate. The box body further includes a base portion and sidewall portions connected to a periphery of the base portion, and a hard drive rack is generally disposed in the box body. In some conventional designs, relatively to the base portion, the hard drive rack is connected to and hangs from the sidewall portions, so it is necessary to dispose a supporting column between the hard drive rack and the base portion to provide support. However, the configuration of the supporting column occupies a configuration space in the chassis and increases manufacturing and assembly costs. Meanwhile, the supporting column also affects configuration flexibility and assembly convenience for other components (e.g., a motherboard) and is thus very inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the invention provide a chassis structure that saves a configuration space therein and reduces manufacturing and assembly costs.

A chassis structure according to an embodiment of the invention includes a box body, a bracket, and a cover plate. The box body includes a base portion and at least one sidewall portion, wherein the sidewall portion is connected to a periphery of the base portion. The bracket is connected to the sidewall portion and includes a first engagement portion. The cover plate is assembled to the sidewall portion and covers the bracket, wherein the cover plate includes a second engagement portion, and the second engagement portion is engaged with the first engagement portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, a gap exists between the bracket and the base portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bracket is located between the base portion and the cover plate.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bracket has a free corner, and the first engagement portion is close to the free corner.

In an embodiment of the invention, a supporting column does not exist between the free corner and the base portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first engagement portion includes a first stop surface, the second engagement portion includes a second stop surface, and the first stop surface and the second stop surface stop each other.

In an embodiment of the invention, one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion includes a lug, and the other one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion includes a recess structure.

In an embodiment of the invention, the recess structure includes a recessed portion and a flange portion, wherein the recessed portion defines an engagement slot.

In an embodiment of the invention, the recessed portion has a first open end, and the lug reaches into the engagement slot through the first open end.

In an embodiment of the invention, the recessed portion has a second open end, and the second open end communicates with the first open end.

In an embodiment of the invention, a width of the engagement slot is greater than a width of the lug.

In an embodiment of the invention, the first engagement portion includes a first guiding slope.

In an embodiment of the invention, the second engagement portion is adapted to be engaged with the first engagement portion along an engagement direction, and the first guiding slope is tilted with respect to the engagement direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, an end of the first engagement portion has a first bending segment, and the first bending segment defines the first guiding slope.

In an embodiment of the invention, the second engagement portion includes a second guiding slope.

In an embodiment of the invention, the second engagement portion is adapted to be engaged with the first engagement portion along an engagement direction, and the second guiding slope is tilted with respect to the engagement direction.

In an embodiment of the invention, an end of the second engagement portion has a second bending segment, and the second bending segment defines the second guiding slope.

In an embodiment of the invention, the sidewall portions include an extension portion, and the bracket is connected to the extension portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the cover plate is adapted to be assembled to the sidewall portions along an assembly direction, the second engagement portion is adapted to be engaged with the first engagement portion along an engagement direction, and the engagement direction is identical to the assembly direction.

A computer according to an embodiment of the invention includes a host chassis. The host chassis includes a box body, a bracket and a cover plate. The box body includes a base portion and a plurality of sidewall portions, wherein the sidewall portions are connected to a periphery of the base portion. The bracket is connected to the sidewall portions and includes a first engagement portion. The cover plate is assembled to at least one of the sidewall portions and covers the bracket, wherein the cover plate includes a main body and a second engagement portion, and the second engagement portion is engaged with the first engagement portion.

Accordingly, in the chassis structure of the embodiments of the invention, through engagement between the first engagement portion of the bracket and the second engagement portion of the cover plate, the bracket is prevented from moving towards the base portion. Therefore, with the bracket hanging relatively to the base portion, it is possible to securely dispose the bracket without disposing a supporting column between the bracket and the base portion, which thereby saves the configuration space in the chassis structure and reduces manufacturing and assembly costs.

To provide a further understanding of the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the disclosure, exemplary embodiments, together with the reference drawings, are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a chassis structure according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating disassembly of the chassis structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating disassembly of the chassis structure of FIG. 1 from another perspective.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a bracket of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view illustrating a cover plate of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 illustrates engagement between a first engagement portion in FIG. 4 and a second engagement portion in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional diagram illustrating the chassis structure of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a chassis structure according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating disassembly of the chassis structure of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating disassembly of the chassis structure of FIG. 1 from another perspective. Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a chassis structure 100 of the present embodiment is, for example, a host chassis of a desktop computer and includes a box body 110, a bracket 120, and a cover plate 130. The box body 110 includes a base portion 112 and a plurality of sidewall portions 114 a to 114 c. The sidewall portions 114 a to 114 c are connected to a periphery of the base portion 112, and the sidewall portions 114 a to 114 c are respectively, for example, a top sidewall portion, a front sidewall portion, and a rear sidewall portion of the box body 110. For clarity in the drawings, FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 merely illustrate the three sidewall portions 114 a to 114 c (i.e., the top sidewall portion, the front sidewall portion, and the rear sidewall portion) and do not illustrate a bottom sidewall portion. The bracket 120 is, for example, a hard drive rack and is connected to the sidewall portions 114 a, 114 b. The cover plate 130 is assembled to the sidewall portions 114 a to 114 c and covers the bracket 120. In other words, the bracket 120 is located between the base portion 112 and the cover plate 130.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the bracket of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view illustrating the cover plate of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 illustrates engagement between a first engagement portion in FIG. 4 and a second engagement portion in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, the bracket 120 includes a first engagement portion 122, and the cover plate 130 includes a main body 130 a and a second engagement portion 132. When the cover plate 130 is assembled to the box body 110 as shown in FIG. 1, the second engagement portion 132 is engaged with the first engagement portion 122 as shown in FIG. 6. Through engagement between the first engagement portion 122 of the bracket 120 and the second engagement portion 132 of the cover plate 130, the bracket 120 is prevented from moving towards the base portion 112. Accordingly, in a chassis where a gap exists between the bracket 120 and the base portion 112 such that the bracket 120 hangs relatively to the base portion 112, it is possible to securely dispose the bracket 120 without disposing a supporting column between the bracket 120 and the base portion 112, which thereby saves a configuration space in the chassis structure 100 and reduces manufacturing and assembly costs.

In other words, two adjacent edges of the bracket are connected to two of the sidewall portions. In some embodiments, one or more than one of the sidewall portions includes a bent extension portion, and the edges of the bracket are connected to the extension portions. As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 120 is, for example, a rectangular bracket. Two adjacent edges 120 a, 120 b of the rectangular bracket are respectively connected to extension portions A1 and A2 of the two adjacent sidewall portions 114 a, 114 b. Therefore, the other two unconnected edges 120 c, 120 d meet and form an unfixed and hanging corner portion, i.e., a free corner E. The first engagement portion 122 is provided close to the free corner E, and an engagement force between the first engagement portion 122 and the second engagement portion 132 prevents the free corner from moving towards the base portion 112. Therefore, it is possible that a supporting column does not exist between the free corner E and the base portion 122.

Referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the first engagement portion 122 is, for example, a lug, and the second engagement portion 132 is, for example, a recess structure 130 b including a recessed portion C and a flange portion F. The recess structure 130 b combines the flange portion F and the main body 130 a through welding or another appropriate method. The recessed portion C is recessed in a direction away from the main body 130 a such that an engagement slot is defined between the recess structure 130 b and the main body 130 a, and the lug reaches into the engagement slot as shown in FIG. 6. Specifically, a width W1 (labeled in FIG. 6) of the engagement slot is greater than a width W2 (labeled in FIG. 6) of the lug to allow the lug to successfully reach into the engagement slot. The invention does not limit the forms of the first engagement portion 122 and the second engagement portion 132. In another embodiment, the first engagement portion 122 may be a recess structure including a recessed portion/an engagement slot, and the second engagement portion 132 may be a lug, and in other embodiments, the first engagement portion 122 and the second engagement portion 132 may be other structures that can be engaged with each other.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the recessed portion C has a first open end C1 and a first closed end C2 opposite to each other and has two second closed ends C3 opposite to each other. Each of the second closed ends C3 is located between the first open end C1 and the first closed end C2, and the lug reaches into the engagement slot through the first open end C1. In other embodiments, the first closed end C2 may be changed to an open end (i.e., a second open end). In that chassis, the first open end C1 and the second open end communicate with each other such that the lug can reach out of the recessed portion C. Any modifications similar to that described above fall within the scope of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional diagram illustrating the chassis structure of FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the first engagement portion 122 includes a first stop surface 122 a, and the second engagement portion 132 includes a second stop surface 132 a. The first stop surface 122 a faces the base portion 112 (illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3), the second stop surface 132 a faces away from the base portion 112, and the first stop surface 122 a and the second stop surface 132 a stop each other to achieve engagement between the first engagement portion 122 and the second engagement portion 132.

Moreover, an end of the first engagement portion 122 has a first bending segment B1, and an end of the second engagement portion 132 has a second bending segment B2. The first bending segment B1 defines a first guiding slope S1, the second bending segment B2 defines a second guiding slope S2, and the first guiding slope S1 and the second guiding slope S2 are tilted with respect to an engagement direction D1. The second engagement portion 132 is adapted to be engaged with the first engagement portion 122 along the engagement direction D1 through guidance of the first guiding slope S1 and the second guiding slope S2. In the present embodiment, the cover plate 130, for example, slides relatively to the box body 110 and is assembled to the sidewall portions 114 a to 114 c (illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3) along an assembly direction D2, and the engagement direction D1 is identical to the assembly direction D2.

Accordingly, when a user assembles the cover plate 130 to the box body 110 along the assembly direction D2, the user also simultaneously completes engagement between the first engagement portion 122 and the second engagement portion 132. In other embodiments, the engagement direction D1 may be different from the assembly direction D2, and the invention is not limited hereto.

In the foregoing embodiments, although one set of combination of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion is illustrated to prevent the bracket from moving towards the base portion, the invention is not limited hereto. More than one set of combination of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion may also be included.

Although the invention is disclosed as the embodiments above, the embodiments are not meant to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art may make slight modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the invention shall be defined by the claims attached below. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A chassis structure comprising: a box body comprising a base portion and a plurality of sidewall portions, wherein the sidewall portions are connected to a periphery of the base portion; a bracket connected to the sidewall portions and comprising a first engagement portion; and a cover plate assembled to at least one of the sidewall portions and covering the bracket, wherein the cover plate comprises a main body and a second engagement portion, and the second engagement portion is engaged with the first engagement portion.
 2. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein a gap exists between the bracket and the base portion.
 3. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is located between the base portion and the cover plate.
 4. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a free cornerfree corner, and the first engagement portion is close to the free corner.
 5. The chassis structure according to claim 4, wherein a supporting column does not exist between the free corner and the base portion.
 6. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first stop surface, the second engagement portion comprises a second stop surface, and the first stop surface and the second stop surface stop each other.
 7. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion comprises a lug, and the other one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion comprises a recess structure.
 8. The chassis structure according to claim 6, wherein the recess structure comprises a recessed portion and a flange portion, wherein the recessed portion defines an engagement slot.
 9. The chassis structure according to claim 8, wherein the recessed portion has a first open end, and the lug reaches into the engagement slot through the first open end.
 10. The chassis structure according to claim 9, wherein the recessed portion has a second open end, and the second open end communicates with the first open end.
 11. The chassis structure according to claim 8, wherein a width of the engagement slot is greater than a width of the lug.
 12. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first guiding slope.
 13. The chassis structure according to claim 11, wherein the second engagement portion is adapted to be engaged with the first engagement portion along an engagement direction, and the first guiding slope is tilted with respect to the engagement direction.
 14. The chassis structure according to claim 11, wherein an end of the first engagement portion has a first bending segment, and the first bending segment defines the first guiding slope.
 15. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein the second engagement portion comprises a second guiding slope.
 16. The chassis structure according to claim 14, wherein the second engagement portion is adapted to be engaged with the first engagement portion along an engagement direction, and the second guiding slope is tilted with respect to the engagement direction.
 17. The chassis structure according to claim 14, wherein an end of the second engagement portion has a second bending segment, and the second bending segment defines the second guiding slope.
 18. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein the sidewall portions comprise an extension portion, and the bracket is connected to the extension portion.
 19. The chassis structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover plate is adapted to be assembled to the sidewall portions along an assembly direction, the second engagement portion is adapted to be engaged with the first engagement portion along an engagement direction, and the engagement direction is identical to the assembly direction.
 20. A computer comprising: a host chassis comprising: a box body comprising a base portion and a plurality of sidewall portions, wherein the sidewall portions are connected to a periphery of the base portion; a bracket connected to the sidewall portions and comprising a first engagement portion; and a cover plate assembled to at least one of the sidewall portions and covering the bracket, wherein the cover plate comprises a main body and a second engagement portion, and the second engagement portion is engaged with the first engagement portion. 